Obituary of Elizabeth Eileen Mikkelson

Elizabeth Eileen (Betty) Brenden Mikkelson, age 96, died peacefully on January 23, 2017 surrounded by family. She is survived by 4 children: Barb (Ted) Deziel, Onamia, MN; Rob (Priz) Mikkelson, Littleton, CO; Mary Mikkelson, Anoka, MN and Anne (James) Johnson, Rochester, MN. 17 grandchildren: Erik, Michael and Melanie Stensland; Sarah, Becky and Elizabeth Deziel; Kari Wisenbaker and Kristi Reindl; Kate Olinger, Emily Jasperson, Laura Stellmacher, and Matt Peterson; Linnea, Brielle, Mikkel, Shaylan and Torrea Johnson; and 21 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, V.J. (Ben) and daughter, Kathleen Fitzgerald. Betty was born on Aug.2, 1920 in Benson, MN to Cornelius and Grace (Knight) Brenden. Her father was a WW1 veteran who, after returning from France in 1919, owned and operated a barbershop located in the Paris Hotel in Benson. Her mother was a homemaker. Betty attended Benson Public Schools and graduated from high school there in 1938. She was a 1943 graduate of her beloved College of St. Teresa in Winona, MN and she stayed in touch with her dearest college friends throughout her life. After college she worked as a registered dietitian at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. On April 26, 1944 she married her high school sweetheart Ben Mikkelson. He was home on leave from the Army Air Corps when, on the spur of the moment, they decided to get married. After the war, they raised their family in Hancock, MN where Ben was a successful International Harvester dealer and Betty was a devoted wife, mother and homemaker. Betty studied piano for many years and she became an accomplished pianist. Her love of music was passed on to her children. The "music room" was filled with the sounds of the piano, saxophone, trumpet, baritone, clarinet, flute, oboe and even the bassoon. The Mikkelson home was alive with music. She lovingly prepared healthy meals for her family, calling on her education as a dietitian. Mealtime was family time, a tradition that continues to be honored by her children and her grandchildren. Betty was a devout Catholic. Her core beliefs were a product of her lifelong Catholic faith. There was clarity in her views about faith, family and tradition. She loved all family gatherings and she especially enjoyed the family week at the lake in Alexandria each summer. At times nearly 50 members of the Mikkelson family gathered together for that special week. She spent the last years of her life at St Therese at Oxbow Lake in Brooklyn Park, MN. It is a lovely facility where she received excellent care. Her mind remained sharp until the end, and she loved having visits and hearing news about her family and many friends. A memorial Mass will be held at St. Therese at 11:00am on January 28, 2017 with visitation one hour prior. Arrangements are with First Memorial Chapel, Brooklyn Park, MN. Private interment will be held at a later date in Clontarf, MN.